Republic of China: From Street Performer to War God in a Chaotic Era

Upon hearing this, Feng Changshan was struck dumb, his face turned deathly pale, and he took a half step back.

They really were spies from the evil cultivators beyond the Great Wall?!

Director Shen's face was gloomy, and a chilling murderous aura permeated the office.

"What a clever tactic of feigning one step while secretly advancing another. Those bastards from the Hu Clan have overreached themselves."

Director Shen opened a drawer, pulled out a Browning pistol, slammed it on the table, and gritted his teeth.

"Feng Changshan, you've made a mess of things, so clean it up yourself. Take a platoon of brothers, bring heavy machine guns, and wipe out the Fujiu Squad."

"Even if he is a genius, if he gets tainted by the evil cultivators from beyond the Great Wall, he will die."

Feng Changshan closed his eyes and replied in a deep voice, "Yes, I will go and kill him right away."

"etc"

The messenger, seeing that his superior was about to send troops, turned pale with fright and waved his hands, shouting, "Chief, Inspector Feng, please let me finish speaking!"

"Spit it out!" Director Shen snapped.

The agent wiped away a cold sweat, turned to the second page of the intelligence report, and spoke at an extremely fast pace:

"Lu Guan does have ties with the Hu family, but he's not a spy; he's the Hu family's enemy."

"Huh?" Director Shen and Feng Changshan were both stunned.

"The informant said that the Hu Clan coveted Lu Guan's abundant pure yang energy and wanted to use him as a 'blood-feeding furnace' to replenish their own essence. They bribed Manager Zhao of Juyinglou to put fox spirit aphrodisiac in the medicinal herbs that Lu Guan bought."

The more the spy spoke, the more alarmed he became.

"As it turned out, not only did this kid not fall for the trap, but tonight in the Fuju Ban courtyard, he actually beat to death the three experts sent by the Hu Clan to catch them."

"One of them is 'Iron Claw,' a highly skilled martial artist with a notorious reputation in the underground gambling scene of Tainan City."

"This kid now has an irreconcilable feud with the Hu family."

An eerie silence fell over the office once again.

Feng Changshan stood there dumbfounded, his mind buzzing.

One punch crippled Iron Claw, a master of Ming Jin (a type of martial arts)?

This kid actually hid his true skills on the frozen surface of the Haihe River?

Behind his desk, Director Shen's gloomy, murderous expression froze instantly. Then, like a Sichuan opera face-changing act, his face flushed crimson.

boom!

Director Shen slammed his hand on the table, causing the coffee cup to fall to the ground and shatter.

He pointed at the spy's nose and began to curse:

"You son of a bitch, are you talking so big of a breathing game?"

"This is such a crucial turning point, and you don't just give me a straight answer? Do you have to make me pull out a gun before you even say a word?"

The agent shrank back, feeling wronged, and dared not utter a sound.

"Good, what a ruthless and unorthodox approach."

In this chaotic world of warlordism, the most frightening thing is not that the people under one's command have ambitions, but that they have no weaknesses or mortal enemies.

"Since this kid has forged an irreconcilable blood feud with the Hu clan outside the Great Wall, what other path does he have in Tianjin Guard besides clinging tightly to the coattails of our Governor's Mansion?"

Director Shen stared intently at Feng Changshan.

"Changshan, you just said that this kid has achieved minor mastery of Ming Jin, yet he's displaying the intent of fist fighting?"

"Absolutely true."

Feng Changshan nodded in a deep voice, "Although it is only a prototype, its fierce and relentless determination, like a tiger going forward without retreating, means that given time, it will definitely become a force to be reckoned with."

"it is good."

Director Shen slammed his hands on the desk.

"Those bastards from the Hu family, who are all pretentious and pretentious, have been increasingly disregarding the Armed Forces Department lately, thanks to the support of the Marshal's concubine. I'm just worried about not having a sharp knife to chop off their claws."

He turned around, took out a long, sealed rosewood box from the safe behind him, and slammed it heavily on the table.

"Inside is a '300-year-old Blood Lingzhi' left over from the Qing Dynasty's Imperial Household Department. It was originally intended to be sent to the Marshal as a birthday gift. Now, it belongs to Lu Guan."

Feng Changshan was taken aback: "Director, this is too extravagant..."

"What do you mean? It's easy to find a thousand soldiers, but hard to find a good general."

"In this world, human life is cheaper than grass, but a truly sharp sword that can kill demons and monsters is worth more than a thousand pieces of gold."

A ruthless glint flashed in Director Shen's eyes. "However, this medicine can't be given away for nothing. I need you to personally oversee tomorrow's annual exam."

"As long as he can suppress those arrogant martial arts schools in Nanshi on the training ground and show the might of our Armed Forces Department, this medicine will be given to him on the spot."

"I want the entire Tianjin garrison to know that following the Governor's Mansion means you'll have plenty to eat. Anyone who dares to oppose us will be skinned alive, even by the most powerful figures from beyond the Great Wall."

"yes!"

Feng Changshan suddenly gave a military salute.

……

The next day, early in the morning.

The snow in Jinmenwei finally stopped, but the chill of the melting snow felt as if it could freeze one's bones.

On the streets of Nanshi, the cries of breakfast vendors were torn apart by the cold wind.

"Gaba Cai, hot Gaba Cai... two copper coins for a big bowl."

"Freshly baked glutinous rice balls, crispy and crumbly."

Lu Guan, wearing a faded old cotton-padded jacket, a tattered felt hat, and his hands tucked into his sleeves, walked out of the dilapidated gate of the Fujuban troupe.

At this time in 1925, prices were clearly differentiated.

An ordinary laborer could earn at most twenty or thirty copper coins a day.

A bowl of gabacai costs two copper coins, making it an extremely cheap way to fill one's stomach.

But Lu Guan did not linger at the breakfast stall.

He walked straight to the butcher shop on the street corner and casually laid out two silver dollars.

"Boss, take that lamb leg and that half a spare rib, all of them. No need to cut them."

The butcher's eyes widened at the sight of the gleaming silver dollars. He hurriedly bowed and scraped as he tied up the dozens of kilograms of meat with straw rope and handed it over.

Lu Guan carried the meat, turned around and walked into the dead end. After a simple cooking, he devoured it like a real wild tiger.

After consuming dozens of kilograms of flesh and blood, the invisible membrane within his body that had been preventing him from reaching the "Great Completion" stage was constantly being washed away by his abundant vital energy, becoming increasingly thinner.

After a swift and satisfying meal, dozens of pounds of meat were gone, and Lu Guan's face was so flushed it looked as if it were about to bleed.

He wiped his mouth with a coarse cloth, his eyes cold.

Today is the annual assessment of the Armed Forces Department.

It was also his first step in completely tearing away the disguise of the "down-on-his-luck little actor" from the Fujiu Troupe and stepping onto the stage of Tianjin.

Only when one stands high enough, and the government's tiger skin is thick enough, will the fox sect hiding in the shadows dare not recklessly mobilize a large number of troops to besiege and suppress him.

After finishing his business, Lu Guan returned to the backstage area of ​​the Fuju Troupe.

The old blind man was sitting by the brazier, groping to apply rosin to his erhu. When he saw Lu Guan return, the old blind man stopped what he was doing.

"Young Master, isn't today the day of the annual military equipment examination? You must be careful of any underhanded attacks on such a prestigious occasion."

"Don't worry, Mr. Blind."

Lu Guan walked to the bedside and reached into his robe.

He pulled out the Browning M1911 pistol that he had seized from under Qian Mazi's pillow at the opium den the night before, along with three magazines full of gleaming yellow bullets.

With a "smack," the foreign gun, gleaming with a bluish-green light, slammed onto the table beside the old blind man.

"This is……"

Although the old blind man couldn't see, the smell of gun oil and the cold touch of steel sent a shiver down his spine.

"Foreign guns, big-eyed pistols."

Lu Guan pulled the old blind man's calloused hand and taught him inch by inch to feel the structure of the gun, pressing his thumb on the safety lever.

"Uncle Blind, I'm going to the drill ground today, it could take half a day or a whole day. I'm worried about leaving you all alone in this courtyard."

Lu Guan's voice was extremely low, carrying a chilling undertone.

"I've already loaded this gun. If anyone dares to kick the door open, whether it's a gangster or a heretic from the Fox Clan, once you've found the right spot, press down on this lever with your thumb, then pull the trigger until the magazine is empty."

"No matter how skilled you are, one shot will take you down. With this iron weapon by my side, whoever comes will die."

The old blind man gripped the gun handle tightly with his withered fingers, took a deep breath, and nodded emphatically.

"Young master, just go and make your mark. This old man has handled firearms before, back in my youth in the Northeast. With this, the opera box won't get lost!"

Seeing this, Lu Guan had no more worries. He turned around, pulled his tattered felt hat down, and pushed open the door to join the flow of people heading to Changqing Temple.

……

At 1:15 AM, at the Changqing Temple drill ground.

This place was originally a training ground for the Green Standard Army of the Qing Dynasty. Now it has been requisitioned by the Military Affairs Department of the Governor's Office and has become an important site for the annual assessment.

Around the drill ground, large yellow flags with black characters fluttered in the wind—"Military Preparations and Explanations."

The area outside the training ground was already packed with people.

Almost all of the thirty-six martial arts schools, large and small, in Nanshi sent people. Some came to watch the spectacle, while others brought teams to learn from their experience.

The martial arts school owners, dressed in brocade cotton-padded jackets and wearing thick-soled shoes, all put on airs, exchanging pleasantries with each other while discussing whose disciples were more talented and how many "external martial arts instructors" they could get this year.

The Liuhe Martial Arts School team stood in the most conspicuous position.

Today, Su Ruoxue changed into a neat dark red outfit, her long hair tied up high, exuding a heroic aura that attracted the frequent glances of many young martial artists around her.

Zhao Linchuan was standing next to an elderly man with white hair and beard, who was the owner of the Liuhe Martial Arts School and their master.

"Ruoxue, I heard about what happened at Haihe last night. Feng Changshan is domineering, you shouldn't have contradicted him." The old master scolded in a low voice, but his eyes were full of doting affection.

"Master, I know I was wrong. But Junior Sister Ruolan died tragically, and I can't swallow this anger." Su Ruoxue lowered her head.

"That's enough."

The old curator sighed.

"Today is the annual examination. As long as you play steadily, getting a top grade shouldn't be a problem. Once you're in the Military Affairs Department, no one in this southern city will dare to look down on my Liuhe lineage."

"Also, you just said that the young master of the Fuju Troupe not only obtained a temporary license for the Jiyi Department, but also developed a martial arts intent?"

"Absolutely true, Master."

Su Ruoxue's eyes were complicated. "That Eight Extremes Killing Move was extremely brutal. I ask myself, at the same level, could I not withstand it?"

A hint of surprise flashed in the old curator's eyes, then he sighed.

"It's truly rare for someone with unorthodox skills to possess such insight. But... an unorthodox approach is still an unorthodox approach."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Linchuan, who was standing to the side, took over the conversation at the opportune moment.

"Master is right. Last night, that water monkey was an evil creature. It tricked us into coming ashore using some unorthodox shadow puppetry, and then used the innate yang energy of Bajiquan to subdue it, which is how it succeeded."

Zhao Linchuan crossed his arms and sneered as he looked at the surging crowd in the distance.

"The governor's office issued him a temporary warrant; it was just a whim of Feng Changshan. Today's annual examination is a real, unpredictable event, where fists and feet have no eyes."

"He's a poor kid who can't even afford tonics. His foundation is weak. If he really goes on stage later, he'll probably be exposed for what he really is."

Su Ruoxue frowned slightly and glanced at Zhao Linchuan with displeasure.

"Senior Brother Zhao, don't underestimate a young man's potential. The depth he displayed last night shows he's no ordinary person."

Just as the various martial arts schools were gearing up for the competition.

In front of the gate of Changqing Temple, behind the stubs for verifying identities and collecting guarantee certificates, several officers in black dog-skin uniforms were arrogantly checking the documents.

"Next!"

A tall, upright boy, wearing a worn-out cotton-padded jacket, walked slowly to the table with his hands tucked into his sleeves.

It was Lu Guan.

His shabby attire made him stand out from the other martial arts students who were dressed in smart training uniforms.

"Name, place of origin, guarantee, and ten silver dollars for a free exam!" The officer in charge of registration impatiently tapped the table with his pen without even looking up.

"Nanshi, Fuju Class, Lu Guan."

"Um?"

The officer suddenly raised his head, looked Lu Guan up and down, and sneered.

"Fuju Class? Do you think this is some makeshift stage under a bridge? No money, no guarantee, and you dare to come to the Armed Forces Department to make fun of me? Get out of here!"

The commotion immediately attracted the attention of the martial arts students in the surrounding area.

Those martial arts school disciples who hadn't been to the Haihe River last night and didn't know Lu Guan pointed and whispered as if they were watching a joke.

"Oh ho, where did this poor wretch come from? The Fuju Troupe? Isn't he just a down-on-his-luck puppeteer performing under the overpass?"

"That's ridiculous! What kind of place is the Military Equipment Department's annual exam? They can't even afford ten silver dollars for the exam fee, and they think they can freeload here?"

"Get out of here and stop defiling the Governor's Mansion grounds!"

The martial arts masters, unaware of the inside story, were cursing enthusiastically when they suddenly sensed something strange about the atmosphere.

They turned around and found that almost half of the martial arts masters around them were now completely silent.

Especially the "Nine-Ring Saber" martial artist who had been reprimanded by Lu Guan on the ice last night, was now standing with his arms crossed, a playful look on his lips, staring at those loudmouthed hotheads as if they were dead.

"Senior brother, what are you laughing at? That poor kid..."

A junior student next to him asked, puzzled.

"Shh, shut up, let's watch the show!"

The nine-ringed swordsman lowered his voice, his face full of schadenfreude.

"Those idiots from the Iron Sand Gate have really bitten off more than they can chew today."

The martial arts students present last night exchanged knowing glances, but no one uttered a word of warning.

The world is a dangerous place, and watching others make a fool of themselves by stepping on landmines can be quite a treat.

Just as those hotheads were shouting and cursing the loudest, and the registration officer was preparing to draw his gun and drive them away...

Lu Guan slowly pulled his right hand out of his sleeve.

In his palm lay a brass waist badge, lying quietly.

Snapped!

Lu Guan casually tossed the heavy bronze plaque, which slammed onto the table with a crisp metallic sound.

"No guarantee, no silver dollars."

Lu Guan looked down at the officer, his eyes sharp as knives.

"Is this enough?"

The officer glanced at it casually, about to lash out, but when he saw the four large characters "武备稽异" (Military Equipment Investigation) engraved on the bronze plaque, his arrogant face turned deathly pale!

He was as if he had a spring in his buttocks; he suddenly sprang up from the chair, his knees buckled, and he almost knelt on the ground, cold sweat pouring down his forehead.

This is a temporary permit specially issued by the Supervisor of the Investigation Department.

Seeing the sign is like seeing the supervisor in person.

"This... sir, look at my blind eyes, that's enough, that's enough, please come inside."

The officer held up the bronze medal with both hands, bowing and scraping, his attitude completely changing.

This scene brought the laughter of the martial arts school disciples who had been shouting and hurling insults to an abrupt halt.

They stared wide-eyed, their faces filled with disbelief, as if a giant hand had grabbed their necks.

"A temporary license from the Bureau of Exorcism? How could he possibly have such a thing?"

The martial arts masters who were present last night sneered, enjoying the ugly expressions on these idiots' faces, which were worse than if they had swallowed a dead fly.

Just then, Su Ruoxue and Zhao Linchuan walked out from the group of the Liuhe Martial Arts School.

"Lu Guan, you're here." Su Ruoxue greeted him warmly.

Lu Guan took back the bronze plaque and nodded slightly to her.

"Miss Su, now that the Governor's Mansion has issued the warrant, I have to see just how deep the water is in this arena."